The simple answer is: there really isn't a robot out there that can successfully cover the wide range of tasks that are performed by hotel staff. A kiosk can get a receptionist's job done easily, so long as the manager doesn't mind the hotel being rated poorer on Yelp. We think that we have found the robot to solve this problem. A robot that brings human touch with robotic efficiency. The solution is Sanbot.

The most obvious place where robots could bring automation is the receptionist desk. As we mentioned before, Kiosks are a valid solution that decreases costs. But do kiosks increase customer satisfaction? Not for most customers. While Sanbot comes with a touchscreen, it is also equipped with the technology to engage in conversations with guests. Most guests prefer to talk rather than scroll through menus, but both options are there. Kiosks are basically computers with very limited capabilities. Sanbot is a humanoid-shaped robot that'll get guests talking. Sanbot is much more memorable than a kiosk and will get guests telling their friends/family about their experience.

An unforeseen benefit to having a robot is that it can speak in any language. Sanbot can talk with tourists in 28 different languages. Hotels with Sanbot can now advertise as being tourist friendly. If a tourist needs help with a more complex task, where staff may be required, Sanbot can act as a verbal translator between the two: much quicker than typing in Google Translate.

Robots can even help with security. Sanbot can automatically (or manually) switch to security mode and patrol the hotel when the front desk is less crowded. Sanbot easily acts as a mobile, 360 degrees CCTV camera that makes sure that the hotel stays safe. And because of Sanbot's facial recognition technology, Sanbot can make sure that no past troublemakers make it inside the hotel.

The problem with many automated robotic "solutions' is that the cost of maintaining them can sometimes be just as high (or even higher) than the labor cost they supposedly save. Sanbot doesn't have this problem thanks to MPS technology: an entire fleet of Sanbots can be managed at once. From displaying promotional events to being called into certain areas for maintenance, it's all accessible from a single piece of software. You even have access to advanced analytics. For example, Sanbot detects that people who have a room in the west wing are 30% more likely to visit the casino. Robots are the future of hotels, but will hotel managers choose the right one?